Curriculum Committee Minutes
February 25, 1997
Present: K. Bartanen, H. Bruce, R. Fields (Sec.), T. Fikes, K. Hooper, C. Kline, D. Lupher, C.
Mehlhaff, M. Morgan, S. Neshyba, G. Proehl, G. Tomlin (Chair), M. Valentine, C. Washburn.
Meeting came to order at 12:01 p.m.; minutes of 1-4-97 were approved as distributed.
ACTION
SCXT 328 - Biology at the Bar: Science in a Legal Context. MSP approval
as meeting the Science in Context guidelines.
SCXT 320 - Stereotypes, Prejudice and Inter-group Relations (A course proposal from C. Weisz
and D. Droge). C. Mehlhaff led discussion, stating that a memo had been sent to the proposers,
alerting them to the concerns of the subcommittee regarding Science in Context guidelines. In
question are (1) guideline specifications that at least one proposer be from the natural sciences,
and (2) that 1/3 of the course content be science. After the proposers have had a chance to
respond to the subcommittee’s concerns, Mehlhaff suggested that the CC may need to reexamine these points, to affirm or interpret.
ACTION
Asian Studies Review. K. Hooper reporting. MSP the review package.
There were no recommended changes in the program.
Physics Review. S. Neshyba reporting. While there no significant changes in the departmental
review, the subcommittee had a number of questions for the Physics department for which they
await response.
ACTION
CTA 104- The Supreme Court and the Argumentative Context of Social
Policy. H. Bruce reporting. MSP (one abstention) accepted as satisfying
Communication II, A (Oral) Core. Discussion followed regarding the thrust of
the course as a vehicle for rhetorical studies of Supreme Court opinion.
ACTION
HUM 113 - The Genealogy of Race: Freshman Seminar in Writing. C. Kline
reporting. MSP as satisfying the Communication I (Written) Core.
Discussion of this item was largely concerned with distinguishing new Freshman
Seminars in Writing from English 101.
ACTION
Chemistry Department review. T. Fikes reporting. CHEM 105 was dropped,
but other than that, no major changes were proposed in this review. MSP
to approve review.
ACTION
Environmental Studies Minor. G. Tomlin reporting. MSP approval of this
new minor. The structure of the Environmental Studies minor rests on ENVR
105- Earth and Environmental Science (Water, Soil, Air & Energy) and ENVR
110-Introduction to Environmental Studies (Apples, Fish & Tree). Together,
these courses provide the scientific, social, political and economic foci. Three
electives from separate disciplines are required from the list of available and
suitable courses. At this point, there are no prescriptions for the electives, but
inasmuch as this minor is in its initial phase, precise guidelines may follow as
course offerings and staffing stabilize. The question was raised as to whether or
not electives in the minor might satisfy other major/minor requirements and it was
affirmed that they would not. The minor includes a required senior seminar
capstone course, ENVR 400.
ACTION
Philosophy Department Review. G. Tomlin reported that the Philosophy
Department has requested a postponement of its department review until
next year. The motion to delay was MSP.
In other announcements, G. Proehl reminded the Society subcommittee of its scheduled meeting
at 4 p.m. in K. Bartanen’s office.
Meeting adjourned at 1:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Fields